Tips for Entry
Read Optical Engineering (https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/optical-engineering?SSO=1) and the IEEE Photonics Journal (https://ieeephotonics.org/publications/ieee-photonics-journal-awards) to learn more about the field.
For job listings, visit:
- https://workinoptics.com
- https://spie.org/careercenter
- https://www.nspe.org/career-growth/career-center
In college, join a study group or optical engineering club, if there is one. As an alternative, consider student membership in Optica or SPIE.
Participate in the National Society of Professional Engineers’ mentoring program (https://www.nspe.org/career-growth/mentoring-resources).
Use social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) to stay up to date on industry developments, network, and learn about job openings. One resource is the Optics and Photonics Industry Network LinkedIn Group.
Related Professions
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Accountants
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Advanced Manufacturing Technicians
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Air Quality Engineers
- Apparel Industry Workers
- Appliance Service Technicians
- Architects
- Assessors and Appraisers
- Astronomers
- Astrophysicists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Auditors
- Automation Engineers
- Automotive Engineering Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Big Data Developers
- Bindery Workers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biophysicists
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Broadcast Engineers
- Building Automation Systems Engineers
- Building Performance Diagnosticians
- Business Managers
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Coremakers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cost Estimators
- Credit Analysts
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Demographers
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Drafters
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Economists
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Electroplating Workers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Planners
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Forensic Engineers
- Forge Shop Workers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Furniture Designers
- Furniture Manufacturing Workers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geophysicists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Gunsmiths
- Hardware Engineers
- Heat Treaters
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet of Things Developers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Layout Workers
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Machine Learning Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mathematicians
- Mathematics Teachers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Meteorologists
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Military Workers, Officers
- Millwrights
- Mining Engineers
- Molders
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Paper Processing Workers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Plasma Physicists
- Plastics Engineers
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Plastics Technicians
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Prepress Workers
- Product Designers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Radio Frequency Engineers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Integrators
- Robotics Technicians
- Rubber Goods Production Workers
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Solar Engineers
- Space Pilots
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Statisticians
- Steel Industry Workers
- Supply Chain Managers
- Surveyors
- Tax Preparers
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Traffic Engineers
- Traffic Managers
- Transportation Engineers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wood Science and Technology Workers